Automatic needle assembling apparatus



June 14, 1960 LUCKE 2,940,165

AUTOMATIC NEEDLE ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. W M BY WJJMV HTTORNEY June M, 196% K. LUCKE AUTOMATIC NEEDLE ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Filed July 50, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 11v VIEN Fm mMM/M FITTORNEH June 14, 1960 uc 2,940,165

AUTOMATIC NEEDLE ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG] FIG.8

INV ENTOR.

BY Wxm HT'T'ORNEb' June 14, 1960 K. LUCKE 2,940,165

AUTOMATIC NEEDLE ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I9 58 49 lYa 57 59 I 17a 3O 54 -I7b lNlfENpT/Iih BY kiwi/aw HTTO M69 United States Patent 2,940,165" AUTOMATIC NEEDLE ASSEMBLING'APPARATUS Karlfried Lucite, 30 Schaefilerbachstrasse,

Augsburg, Germany 7 FiledJuly so, 1957, Set. No.'675,1'15 Claims riority, applicatioii oen'nmi Jiii 's'o', i953 17 Claims; 01. 29-211 The objector the invention is toprovide a sirnp leiauto matic apparatus which permits the rapid and correetset tingand assembling of needles or pins for combs and the: like in" a" satisfactory manner, i.ei without any faults.

This apparatus is used for setting needles for the: comhsf of comb segments o f'combing machines and top comes of such machines and can also be usedfor other parts: oftextile machines fitted with needles, for ekample ne'edl e strips, gill bars or needle rollers or needle bars for inters'ecting machine gill boxes, and also h acklingmachines. The automatic needle setting and assembling apparatus according to the' invention consists essentially of a needlechamber which serves to accornn'l'odate a plurality of needles, a periodically movednee'dle lifter, which at every movement grips a' needle in the chamber and lifts it horizontally out of the said chamber, atilting me ans'which supports the needle at a point alongits length in such manner that the'needle' tips over downwardly in a specific position, of an approximatelyvertical guide duct which tapersin the downwardisense and in which the'needle' slides downwardly in the aforesaid specific position, and of a periodically moved conveying; device whereby needle strip which is to be filled and which is arranged horizontally below the guide duct is always advanced by the" amount of the spacing of the needles. The features of'the invention willbe described in more detailhereinafter with reference to examples of the invention illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation of an automatic needle setting apparatus, according to the present invention,

Figure 2' is aplan view thereof, H I Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the'line I'II:III of Figure l, on a largerscale, I

Figure 4 is a view taken in the direction Aof Fi ures on asmaller scale, 7 T Figure 5 is a'vertical sectional view taken on the lin'e VV of Figure 4 on the'scale of Figure 3',

Figure 6 is a'front elevation of the needle lifter," H Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line VIP-VII of Figure 2' through the needle supply containe'r, ona'larger scale, p p Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line VHF-NIH of Figure 7, w p

Figure 9 shows detailsdfFigureS on 'a larger scale," Figure 10' is a sectional view tale n on' the line X"X of" Figure 9, e a

Figure 11 is'aplanview of a needle strip, V g Figure 12 is across sectional view of the needle' strip' takcnon' IhelineXIL XH'o f Figure ll,

Figure 1 3'is 'a'viewon a larger scale of parts of'Fig' ure-1,;

Figu'r'e14isa sectionafview ill aeeo'rdenee iiitifrigiiie 3 showinga simplified construction, V I A FigurlS' 's afront ele 'ationofaifurther embodiment of ari' automatic needle setting apparatus, i

Figure 16 i'sa vertical sectional view on the line- XVL-XVI of Figure 1 5. V

Inthej drawings; 1- designates abox-lik'housiiig whieh is close d late marten end by a itta 2' and in wha the I arranged centrally, of the trough} isla slidevll'which covers hi Rl JP 'Se th n er e f h is i e i orme i ht iiol r o e 1 1 wh c ex end n. the" long din d c the bottom aperture 6, and which is adjustable: in .the

r c l sen e by me ns f V r w .0. d whih. ie t he f s. of edles.) t h bb mm p ture: 6- .Fct.

of the supply container 3 and through which, when the slide is adjusted appropriately, one needle at a time can slide, to 3.11 into the channel 7 an'd'be conveyedito a needle chamber. 12 which'has an oblique .surface 13,(see

Figure 14). Arranged at the lower endof theoblique surface, 13 is an interchangeable plate-hke'needle lifter 14' v'vhicli is'movedf vertically upwards and. downwardsfan'd whoseupper edge chmprises an inclined surface lS the length], of which (sejeFi'gure 6) cor responds to th ength dfia'neic'dle. The needle lifter has twoa'rmslsQwhich. bound the inclined surface; 15 I Also provided is avertical guid'e'wall 1 6 Zwhich' bounds'ithe, needle chamber 12 together the inclined surfaceQIS of the needle li ft'er serve's'tosupport a need1e17whenthe said needle lifter is moved upwards. Therefore, at the upward movement of thelneedleli'ftci' 14,the'needle 17 islifted (see Figures 3 and 'l4), unti1 it reaches the, position 17a above ahori; zontal knife edge 19 of the guide wall 16, which is: bounded on the' other side by an inclined surface 20.. A tilting means is' provided which supports the needle in the horizontal position in such manner that the needle tips over downwardly in'a specific'position. In the simplified embodiment shown in Figure 14 there arc Provided. for purpose two pins 21, 22 which are arranged spaced from one anotherjn such manner that accordingto Figure 14 the relatively thick shank end of the needle 17a is held between theinclined surface 20 and the pin 21, whereas the rel'ativelythin needle point passesthrough between the inclined surface 20 and the other pin22, i.e, the needle 17:; swingsjround so that its point is" lowermost and slides downwardly in an approximately vertical" position 17]; intqa-ye'rticalguide' duct 23,

In the embodiment according to Figur'e'sl to'r5 th ereis' provided a drivenroller 25 whichis formed atitsfperiphery withfla longitudinal slot 24' for accommodating a, needle; and which forms with the inclined surface 20 a channel 26 in whichfthe needle 17:: falls into the posit ion' 17c. Arranged at'the opposite side of the roller at, a slight'adjustable distance therefromare the two pointed pins 21, 22 which are directed approximately radially: towards the roller. When the roller 25 rotates in the direction" c the needle; 17c falls'into the'slot' 24 and is carried along by the roller; Thenitin thepositio'n ofthe roller illustrated in Figures 3', 9 and 10 the needle in the position 11d falls out of thefs1ot24'and into the position 17e in which it is supported at the shank end by the pin, 21 whereas the needlepoint .as shown in Figure ll) passes freely between roller 25an1d pin 22 and accord; iugly the needle'is tipped'over downwardly in a v'erticall position with its point lowermost; and fallsdownward in the position'17b'shownin Figures Site -13. Thepins 21, 22 are expediently constructed as screw pins in, order that the spacing from the roller 25 can be adjusted accurately.

'fast to, the front housing wall 2 21.311 3 then falls "into the'iipper guide duct 28 which tapers in the downward sense, and which merges into the needle guide duct 29. These needle guide ducts 28, 29 are formed ina slightlys obliq'uely inclined platet3ll and are covered by a transparent plate 31 which is fixed in? readily removeable manner. The plate 3 is connected As-shownxin the drawings, more particularlyj Figures 3 to the needle lifter 1 is connected to a slide 32 whi chis'adapted to bemovedupwards and downward and which is mounted to be displaceable in the vertical sense on guide' 'rods 33 of the'plate j2, andis pressed downwardly by'ceil springs 34; 1The slide 321 moved; I

upwards and downwards by drivewhich islnot.showti; lhe drawings; 7 l o s lp ii h sl e 32...i a rash 35 which through thefageneyfofapinion :16 fdrives: the. 1 i roller a: I. t 1 1 i o n' in g re .2 afidfi e est tin V wh rp v d r w l ppmpri eih l j oraccummq-i dat'in'g needles is mounted so to be displaceablej in the longitudinal direction below the verticalneedle duct 29; The needle'strip restsin aguide rail 38 and is convenientlypressed against this'gpide rail by lightplampa ing springs 39' Also providedgjisa .conveying' dev-ice;

whichalwaysadvances the said needle strip by theatr'tgtlnt of the 'lnee'dle spacing Provided for this purpnse is a horizontal slide lllwhich is movedftoandfro in the: direction D and which-always act s onthe needle last inserted in" the" strip 37 and advances the strip by the amount of the needle spacingf' According to -Figures 1 and 2, the'slide 40 which is mounted in a guide41 is, pressed by aspring.

42' into its initial position. Tjhe sliding movement is effected by a reciprocated member 43 by wayof an adjusting screw 4ft bymeans of which the length of the advanc ing movement'is adjustable; j

According to Figures 11; andla, the lane, strip 37;

, consists of two metal clamping 'bars 45 'aii'd'46 which are connected by screws or the like" and of an interposed.

wooden or plastic strip 47 which together with the clamping bar 45, which is grooved at its inner side, form holes 48 into which the needles 17 can be inserted, the said needles falling downwardly point] foremost into these holes in the manner described. hereinbefore from the needle duct 29. e e

By means of this needle. strip 37 the needle shanks projecting freely as shown in Figure "12 can then be welded on to a comb or the like.

In place of the needle strip 37 it is also possible to arrange a needle bar, gill bar orv the like of known .construction below the needle duct 29. Then the needles are inserted with their points downwards immediately lifter 50 is an intermediate chamber 58 which comprises an inclined surface '59. Provided between this intermediate chamber 58 and the needle chamber 12 is the needle end portions of each element locatedat the bottom end thereof during downward movement thereof, in combination, positioning means for automatically andsuccessively positioning single elements in a positionifor movement by gravity while the elements extend substantially h0ri-;

zontally, said positioning means including a. movable supporting and moving means for supporting and moving.

single elements ina substantially horizontal position, and

.. aligning means located with respect to said movable into the vertical holes of the said needle bar. The projecting needle shanks are then driven or pressed intothe needlebar.

Figures 15 and 16 show a further form of embodiment of aneedle fitting apparatus according to the invention.

Here there is provided in the middle of the edg 19 a horizontal tilting edge 49 which is'situate'd perpendicularly to the edge 19, 'andrat which the needle lifted 'by a needle lifter 15 to the position 17a is then supported exactly centrally bythe tilting edge49. .Since the centre of gravity of the needle is situatedwtowards the left or right of the "edge 49, the needle alwaystilts with its relatively'heavy shank portion lowermost, into the position 177 and downwards into the tapering guide duct 51. The latter divides intothe two guide ducts .52 which at 53 each comprise an arcuate recess acting as a stop; and 1 at this regionare 'so broadened thatithe falling. needleat I 7g impinges on the stopf53, tips over-in the direction V ofthe arrow B over the upwardly projecting edge54 of therecess and is guided point downwards. inthe position,

17d into the vertical needle ,duct'55.

In the embodiment shown lifters 50 and 56 are provided." lnterpos'ed between the 994 t e es .1 t ssi ew u 1m ned c in Figure :16 itwo needle I means for placing the end portions of successive elements.

in the sameposition; and astationary tiltingmechanism located Jill tile path of movement Iofsaid, elements for engaging each moving element ata portion intermediate said two end portions thereofi so thatthe heavier of said end portions turns, downwardly about said .tilting mechasm'sm,;,whereby a selectedendportion of each element is located in a downwardly. pointing position.

2. In a dev ce as recited in clain1 ;l,-said tilting acting on said elements to locate the thinner ends. thereof in adownwardly directed positiom 3. In a device as recited in claim l, said ,tiltingmeans including an elongated surface portion against which, each element is located 'in=a' horizontaljp0sition for free'falling.

movement therefrom, and a pair of stationary pins; di-

rected toward and terminating short, of said elongated surface portion,;said pinsrespectively having free ends in a horizontal plane in'which each element is located when it engages said surface portion and said free ends.

of said pins being substantially equidistantly spaced from said surface portion by a distance less than the thick-.

ness of the thicker end of each element and greater than the thickness. of the thinner end of each element plus thedistance of the thinner end of each element from said surface portion, and said pins being spaced from each other by a distance slightly less than the length of'each element and being positioned respectively in alignment with the end portions of each element when it engages said surface portion, whereby irrespective of which ofsaid pins is engaged by the thicker end ofeach element, each element will turn in a direction which places its thinner end in a downwardly directed position before moving downwardly beyond said pins.

4. In a device as recited in claim 3, said surface portion forming part of an inclined surface which is inclined.

: with respect to horizontal and vertical planes.

5. In a device as recited in claim 3, said surface portion forming part of a curved surface.

6. In a device as recited in; claim 3, said surface portion forming part of a cylinder and being in theform of an axially extending; groove formed in the exterior surface of said cylinder.

7. In a device as recited inclaim 6, said cylinder being.

turnable about its axis for advancing an elementin said groove thereof to a position where each element would;

fall freely-from said groove were it not for the action of saidpinsfi' V j .8. In a device as recited inclaim l, said tiltirig means being a single memberfor engaging said fpointandac ting- V on said elements to locate the thicker ends thereof in a downwardly directed position. i v j 9.111. a device as recited inclaim 8, saidv tilting means anew-res being in th'e form armament member havinga relatively thin straight top edge extending-substantially horizontally in a' direction perpendicularto,each element when it is horizontally positioned for free falling movementand said top edge being located substantially midway between the ends of each element, so that when saidelements successively engage said edge the thicker and consequently heavier end of each element compels the latter to turn around said edgewith'the thicker end of each element directed downwardly b'eforeeach' element moves downwardly beyond said edge; 7 a v In a device as recited in claim 9", second tilting means located underneath said first 'mentioned tilting means laterally of said top edge and in the path of downward movement of said elements when they fall freely downwardly beyond said edge to engage and interrupt the movement of the thicker end of each element while freeing each element for free turning movement about the thicker end thereof to approximately a position where the thinner end of each element is directed downwardly while the thicker end thereof is engaged by said second tilting means so that the position of each element is automatically reversed by said second tilting means.

11. In a device as recited in claim 1, adjusting means operatively connected with said tilting means for adjusting the latter to cooperate with elements of different thickness.

12. In a device as recited in claim 1, said positioning means including a first stationary member having a downwardly inclined surface down which the elements are adapted to roll one after the other while in a substantially horizontal position, a second stationary member having a flat vertical surface spaced from, directed toward, and extending from an elevation higher than to an elevation lower than the bottom end of said inclined surface, said first member having a fiat vertical surface extending downwardly from the bottom end of said inclined surface thereof parallel to and spaced from the flat surface of said second member so that said flat surfaces defined between themselves a vertical guideway, said second member having a top horizontal edge at the top end of said fiat surface thereof and said second member having a downwardly inclined surface extending downwardly from said top end thereof and inclined in the same direction as said inclined surface-of said first member, and a lifting plate located in said guideway in slidable engagement said flat surfaces for vertical reciprocating movement and having an upwardly directed face inclined in the same sense as said inclined surfaces; and means for reciprocating said plate in a stroke which locates said face thereof below the bottom end of said inclined surface of said first member at the bottom of said stroke and in a position high enough to at least form an extension of the inclined surface of said second member at the top of said stroke so that elements on the inclined surface of said first member will be separately and successively raised during successive strokes of said plate to the top end of the inclined surface of said second member to be positioned for free falling movement downwardly along the inclined surface of said second member while each element is horizontal.

13. In a device as recited in claim 1, said tilting means being located adjacent said movable means substantially at the top of the path of free falling movement of the elements to engage the latter substantially at the instant when said movable means positions the elements in said position for free falling movement.

14. In an assembling machine, a device for arranging elongated elements one end of which is thicker than the other in a predetermined relation with respect to each other, in combination, positioning means for automatically and successively positioning single elements in a position for free falling movement by gravity while the elements extend horizontally, said positioning means including a movable means for nupporting and moving single elements in a horizontal position, and aligning means 10- 1 falling movement of the elements for engaging a single point'intermediate two portions of a'falling elemen'tso thatthe heavier portion of said portions turns downwardly abo'utsaid' tilting means'whereby a selected end of each element is located in a downwardly pointing position; a receiving means positioned beneath said tilting means iri the path of downward movement of the elements'from" said tilting means, said' receiving means being formed witha row of receiving openings-having open'top' ends into which the elements are adapted to successively move with said predetermined ends thereof first entering said openings; and a shifting means operatively connected with said receiving means for shifting the latter step by step in the direction of said row to locate said openings successively in the path of movement of the elements to successively receive the latter whereby said elements will become automatically respectively located and assembled in said openings with said predetermined ends of said elements forming the bottom ends of the latter.

15. In an assembling machine, a device for automatically arranging and assembling elongated elements, one end of which is thicker than the opposite end, in a position in which a selected end is located below the other end of each element, in combination, a support having a downwardly inclined face and a pair of spaced aligning means spaced in horizontal direction of said inclined face a distance corresponding to the length of said elements; means for supplying said elements to said inclined face to form a row between said aligning means; a plate having a downwardly inclined top portion located at the lower end of said face and being reciprocable in upward and downward directions and passing the lower end of said face during its stroke to successively carry single elements on said top portion to a higher position; another support adjacent said plate having a downwardly inclined face with a horizontal top edge located in the region of said higher position so that single elements on said top portion move downwardly on said inclined face of said support; and tilting means including a pair of stationary pins having ends spaced from each other in direction of said top edge and being equidistant from said top edge, said pins being located slightly inwardly of said aligning means so that each pin engages a point of a downwardly moving element on the thicker end of the same while the other end of the element passes the other pin whereby the element tilts about the pin engaging the thicker end so that the thinner end of the falling element leads in downward direction.

16. In an assembling machine, a device for automatically arranging and assembling elongated elements, one end of which is thicker than the opposite end, in a position in which a selected end is located below the other end of each element, in combination, a support having a downwardly inclined face and a pair of spaced aligning means spaced in horizontal direction of said inclined face a distance corresponding to the length of said elements; means for supplying said elements to said inclined face to form a row between said aligning means; a plate having a downwardly inclined top portion located at the lower end of said face and being reciprocable in upward and downward directions and passing the lower end of said face during its stroke to successively carry single ele-. ments on said top portion to a higher position; another support adjacent said plate having a downwardly inclined face with a horizontal top edge located in the region of said higher position so that single elements on said top portion move downwardly on said inclined face of said support; a cylinder turnable about a horizontal axis and having at least one axial groove in the surface thereof, the cylinder being located at the lower end of said inclined face of said support so that during turning movement of said cylinder single elements are positioned in said groove andare carried bysaid cylinder toa position in which end of the ,same while the other end of the element passes.

the other pinwherebythe element tilts aboutthe pin engaging the thicker end so that the thinner end of the'fa lling element leads in downward direction; means for turnin'gsaid cylinder; and means for reciprocating said plate.

17. A device as set forth in claim 16. andincluding means connecting said means for turning said cylinder and said means for reciprocating said plate for synchronous operation.

References Cited inthe file of thi s'pa tent 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Goerlitz Oct. 14, 1952 Graham Dec 15, 1953 Schlicksupp Apr.'13, 1954 Simshauser July 27, 1954 

